Improvement in sulky attachments for plows



T. WEAVER.

Sulky Attachments for Pl'ows. N0V154306 -Patented Aug4.18,18`74v.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

THEoPHILUs WEAVER, 0E HAEEIsBUEe, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN SULKY ATTACHMENTS FCR FLOWS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.1154,306, dated August18, 1874; application filed June .28, 1873.

To all-whom it may concern:

Be it known that-I, THEoPEILUs WEAVER, of Harrisburg, county lof Dauphinand State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improvement in SulkyAttachment for Plows, of which the following is a specification:

.The nature and objects of my improvement may be inferred from thefollowing declarations of invention: It consists, first, in a pair ofimproved detachable compensating-clips, bolted together at their middle,distended by set-screws at their tops, to embrace any ordinary plow-beambetween their lower limbs, leaving the plow-beam free from any obtrudingparts beneath it, to avoid clogging; second, in a pair. of armslaterally projected from the body of the major clip, by which the axleand seat are braced and adjusted in a peculiar manner by means of theverticallyrolling joints formed on the clip-arms by the stays andhorizontally-shitting joints formed by the other ends of the stayspivoted to and set by screws through the trcadle board,

v which is the support of the axle and the seat;

third, in mounting the seat and treadle-frame on a slider on the axle,and in .providing the stays with a series of holes, to make their pitch'on the clip-arms variable at pleasure, so that the seat andtreadle-frame may be set more or less toward the wheel of the sulky, tobalance the driver over it as a center of gravity, thus .enabling him toregulate the depth of furrow at will bythe disposition of his weight;`fourth, in aplow-beam-controlling mechanism, consisting of a triangularor quadrangular disposition of pivots yconnecting the operating-lever toan .adjustable upright frameprovided with `detents for stopping thelever; also, connecting said lever with the axle byalink hitchedadjustably in a foot or arm on the lever, and hitched at its other endin an eye through the axle, 'measurably removed from its end; also,connecting the buttend of the axle, bya horizontal swivel -joint, to afoot or arm on the lower margin of the upright, in whose center thefirst-mentioned pivot or lever-fulcrum is located; fifth, in connectingand guiding the double-handled operating-lever with.the segment havingthe detents for the lever-stop, by providingsaid Ystop or `plunger withv an4 angular-hooked bit 5 sixth, in providing the `major clip-body witha vertical slot, and a guiding-seat in front of the slot, for theattachment and adjustment of the upright arched fra-me, to adapt thebeam controlling mechanism to plows of greater or less height of beam,the wheel-axle to remain in its normal or horizontal alignment; seventh,in combining the clips, treadle and seat connections, beam-controllingmechanism, and wheel and axle, in such manner that the attachment isuniversal, independent of fixed mountings on the plow, and corporate orunbroken when detached.

In the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification,Figure l represents a rear view of my improved sulky attach? ment,attached to a lei't-ilanker plow. Fig. 2 represents a top view of thesame. Fig. 3 is a front or edge View of the beam-controlling mechanism.Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7,8, and 9 are sectional views, representing,respectively, the

operating-lever, axle, major clip, arched frame,

minor clip, and detents-plunger.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the general description.

The major and minor clips', marked respectively m n c and m n e, composethe attaching device. They are connected aboutvtheir middle bythrough-bolts g', threaded extensively enough to allow the nuts appliedexteriorly to the clips to set the clips against the sides of an iron orwooden plow-beam, asv shown at J. The eyes in the clips are made ampleenough to pass the bolts g looselyr through them, thus allowing theclips to cant at their ends to align on beams of dierent outline orcross-section, the limbs e e of the major clip being parted, as shown inFig. 6, to sit against the beam about the swell or eye of the beam, andto afford a good base, on which the whole attachment rests when attachedto the beam. The limb c of the minor clip (shown in Fig. 8) is madetoset against the opposite side of the beam, and to set midway to theparted limbs of the opposite clip. The clips being applied to the beamas shown in Figs. l and 2, the limbs e e are compressed by the set-screwg, which travels in n, the upper end of the minor clip, and sets in acounter-sink in n', the top of the major clip. This holding devicewilladapt itself -to tapered or square beams, to narrow or broadbeams, andcan be instantly detached by undoing= the set-screw g. The other partsof the sulky attachment being supported on the major clip, ashereinafter set forth, it will be observed that no extraneous or fixedmountings are required on the plow-beam, and that the holding device isapplicable to either right or left anker plow-beam. It is, therefore,universal and independent in its nature, and leaves the under side ofthe,

beam free from obstructing parts which would clog the cleaver. The majorclip is provided with laterally-extended arms R R1 near the middle ofits body for the support of the stays F F', as shown in Fig. 2, whichare attached to the clip-arms by the minor clips Q Q', which are a smallsize of ordinary carriageaxle clips, the stays F F' being perforatedwith pairs of holesequally distant, to allow the seat and treadle-frameto be more or less shifted relatively to the clip-arms JR R1,which areconnected to thestays by hookbolts, or their equivalents, loosely, toallow the plow to roll freely on a horizontal longitudinal joint. Thesaid stays F F' extend `from the clip-arms in direction as shown inFigs. 1 and 2, and have their outer ends adjustably attached to theunder side of the treadle H', which is mounted transversely above theaxle W W1 W2, so as to be balanced about equally over it, its rest onthe axle being secured bya chair, P, which is bolted to the treadle, andhas an eye or slotat P'l in it, to freely admit the axle through it,this being required. to compensate by shifting 'on the axle in operatingthe beam-controlling mechanism. .The said stays FF' arepivoted by boltsy y' to the treadle H', as shown, and are clamped by bindingscrews Z Z'in slots described from the pivots y y' as centers.

The treadle H' is thus adapted to be shifted fore or aft, in relation tomiddleof the clip attachment, and its adjustment takes the axle with itby .means of the chair P P', by which it is connected therewith, asstated. This longitudinal horizontal adjustment of the treadle and axleis required to compensate for the side draft of the sulky attachment onthe gage of the plow, its tendency being to increase the breadth offurrow, and must be regulated either by the plow-clevis or by this modeof adjustment.

As the plow is desired to be left intact in its regulation, so that itmay be in working condition when the sulky is temporarily detached inplowing stumpy, rocky, or other irregular area of soil, it isfound-expedient to make the attachment self-compensating for its sidedraft.

The treadle is located centrally over the axle to enable the driver tothrow his weight in favor of deep or shallow furrow.

The drivers seat His supported by brace R2 and standards T T on thetreadle H', in such position, as shown, to overhang the sulkywheels moreor less, in order that the driver may throw his weight on the wheel as acen-v I ter of gravity in relation to the gage of the plow. VThe treadleH' and operatinglever A N are arranged, also, to enable the driver tostand on the treadle by supporting one hand on the lever-handle.

l The major clip has a vertical groove or seat, S1, on its face, for thereception and guidance of the upright jamb O of the arched frame E E',and has a slot, S2, inthe middle of said seat S1, through which, by abinding screw or bolt, d d', said arched frame is adjustably attachedlto the major clip-body, as shown in Figs. l. 2, 6, 7. This verticaladjustment is required to maintain the axle in its normalV horizontaldirection, as plow-beams differ in height, and this difference must bemade up by adjustment of the arched frameE E', which has an extension,M, at its lower margin, to which the butt-end W of the axle is pivotedby a horizontal connecting-bolt, as shown 1n Figs. l, 2, and 3. Thearched frame E E' (shown in Figs. l and 7) has au eye, Gr', as a bearingfor the hub G, the fulcrum of the op erating-lever A N, shownseparatedand com bined in Figs. 4t and 1, respectively. Said frame E E' has anarch, D, of detents, described with G' as a center, the end thereofterminating in the guard D', which limits the throw of the lever by thebit 1^ of the plunger connected with said lever. The operating-lever A Nis provided with two handles, A A, set oppositely on its upper end, isslotted to pass through it one of the plunger-handles, B', and a. rivet,L, by which the plunger is held against the lever at its upper end, saidrivet and handle being allowed to traverse the slot as a guide for theplunger. Said lever has also a slot, S, in its body immediately abovethe arched head of detents on frame E E', and the plunger has a bit, r,whose blade, reaching through said slot S, engages the teeth of thearched frame, and also holds the lever against the side of said frame EE', by a bill-form projection, r', which reaches down on the oppositeside of the frame E E', so as not to be disengaged in its office, whilethe plunger is withdrawn to release its bit r from the de-y tents D. i

The length of the plunger-stem B2 is such as to present the handle B1and the bit fr thereon through the lever A N at like places in the slotstherein, and said slots are prolonged sufciently only to allow a limitedthrow of the plunger, and to be stopped by the ends of the slots. Theplunger has also a duplicate handle, B, opposite to the handle B1, asshown in Fig. 9, so that, when the plunger and lever are united, asshown` in Fig. 3, the fingers may reach and retract the plunger-handle,while the palm of the same hand rests on` and operates the lever-handleon either side, the handles being duplicated to adapt it equally wellfor right or left anker-plow attachment. A gum band, B3, stretched overhandle B1 and a stud on the lever, acts to hold the plunger B2 down to asure bite in thedetents made for its bit. The lever is also providedwith an arm, V, projectin'g from the body of the lever, and perforatedto receive a rod, V2, or strap and bolt, by which the lever v:is hitchedto the axle, the otherend of the rod or 4strap being pivoted to the axleat W1, as shown, in Fig. 1, the axle 'shown in Fig. 5 being around bar,provided with flattened places for the pivot-holes at W and V, andhavingalinchpin-hole at Y.

the position shown:

Case first. If the lever be vibrated away from the plow, the axleremaining compara-V tively level, the 'fulcrum Vwill distort theimaginary triangle, the pivots W and V will approach each other, and thefour pivots W W1 V V1 will form a quadrangle; the frame-E E', andconsequently the plow, will be `canted away from the sulky-Wheel, orthrown more l or less on its share, as desired, either to take" @widerfurrow or to turn a headland, when the plow may ride on the mold-board.

Case second. If from the position stated above the lever be vibratedtoward'the plow, the fulcrum V1 will be carried into the interior of theimaginary triangle, and the frameV E E', andI consequently the plow,will be canted toward the sulky-wheel, or directed to gage a narrowerfurrow.

If the sullry-wheel is traveling'upgrade in relation. to the plane of.',the plow, the lever must be vibrated according to case rst. Ifl ondowngrade, it must be vibrated according to case second.

The intermediate grades between high and low surface, between the plowand the wheel, may all be substantially anticipated by the driverby'selecting a proper detent for the lever, to equalize the operation ofdrawing a uniform furrow over rolling surface, the roll of thebeam-Gauting mechanism being sufficient to balance the inequality eitherway.

,A long-felt want, it is believed, is `met by this attachment, which isadaptedto all plow structures in common use, whether of iron or woodenbeam, right or left hand flanker, for level or rolling surface, in acheap, convenient, unmistakably simple, and perfectly self-constitutedmechanism.

Having thus fully described 4my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1.-'The clamp-holder constructed substantially as herein setforth, incombination with the plow-beam J and the sulky attachment vproper, forthe purpose set forth. 2. The major clip m' 'n' c', providedwith thearms R R1, in combination with the stays F F' Vof the treadle H', unitedby the axle-clips Q Q', or their equivalents, to form the rolling joint,substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. The stays F F'7 pivoted to the treadle H' at y y', and clampedadjustably by the binding-screws at Z Z', in combination with thesulky-axle W W1 W2, by means of the chair P P', or its equivalent, whenthe fore and aft shifting of -the axle is thereby effected,substantially inthe manner as and for the purpose herein set forth.

4. The groove S1 and slot S2 in the major v clip, in combination withthe vertical jamb O of the arched frame E E', secured together by thebolt and'nut d d', or their equivalents, for

the purpose herein set forth.

5. In combination with segment E E', having detents D and guardD', theslotted lever A N and plunger B2, having hooked bit r r', to reachthrough said slotted lever, and hold it adjusted and applied to thesegment, substantially in the manner described,

6. -The arrangement of the pivots W, W1,

V, and V1 to form the triangle or quadrangle p in canting the plow-beam,substantially as' herein set forth. Y

7. The combination of the lever A N, rod or strap V2, frame E E', andaxle W Wl W2, these parts operating conjointly to control the beam J,substantially as set forth.` A

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I have hereuntoset my hand this 29th day of July, 1873.

- Witnesses:

ABRAHAM BOWERS, D. A. KEPNER.

THEOPHILUS WEAVER.

